The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-04-28
WHAT OF TIE OOAL9

No topic ever excited Sueh general
interest in Sank Centre as the pres.
ent Investigation OF the coal vein
near the village. Coal is in every
body's mouth and mind. The very
air is full OF it. All sorts of rumors
gain currency, are told and retold,
exaggerated, minimiZed, denied and
reliirmed, leaving the nearer in
doubt as to The very existence of any
such place as the Pangburn farm.
Facts-fourteen years ago while
David Pangburn was digging well
on his farm southeast of the village
he encountered, at the depth Of
seventy feet some specimens of coal.
which he tested and found they
burned readily. He thinks he dug
into this stratum of coal about two
feet and did not get through it. He
has spoken Of it number of times
to various parties. Three years ago
lie had a friend visiting him from
England, MI. Reginald Stanley, and
he mentioned the fact to him. Mr..
Stanley, who owns extensive collier.
les in England. advised Mr.. Pang-
burn to investigate the matter by
sinking other shafts in the vicinity
of the we'll. He has put the matter
off from time to time until about
three weeks ago, when he conelud-
ed to follow the advice. He accord
ingly put down another we'll about
fourteen feet from the old one, and
ct the depth of ses enty feet he
struck coal again, which readily
stood the tests applied to it. After
penetrating the vein to depth Of
fourteen inches, the drill became dis
abled, and work ceased.
lie reported this fact, and at once
was offered all the assistance he re-
quired to make further inyestiga-
ton. He declined, refusing aid and
even declining an offer of ten thous-
and dollars for his farm Of a quarter
section. lie was finally persuaded to
join with Henry Keller and others,
anu boring machine owned by M.
d. JudkinS, and D. NJ. Farr of Osa-
kis, was sent for TO sink holes for the
purpose Vi aScefIaihihg the thickness
anu are" VI Ihe Velh' Inc machine
arrived oh l"eSo"y' was taken out
10 lhe l"rhl' an" WAS Droosht BACK
on wednesday, since when time all
SorIs OF ruIh"iS nave been aloat.
hulh"rS-lhe machine was set up
on tuesday evening over the hole
ALREADY oo"h 10 Ih' oePth OF seventy
leSI' ana was SET III WORK. IL drilled
through seven Rect OF coal that
h's"'' "H" inc next morning through
TWO ie7C "'oi'' "IV"o"I piercing the
'e'"' IL W.T., '"'" '"N1h up packed
"P CO.." ",'' "''oA '"''''' "a iOur-loot
wen % ''''''' "''' ~ o'''0 oo SUNK at
'''e '''''' P''''' '"' Cie purpose or
''I""'''S = ''"'.'' Il''"uS "Iioh' Ihls
"'''o' - ""''' 20 nave lo"neu curren'
- ''i'"s' '''''" ''''o"" VI MI rang
IVA L.
IL ""' '"'''"'" 'i"LcAIy ny the re-
poIV ''''' '"' '''"c"'''" WAS hoI START
Gu at all us the projectors did not
thlnk IL worth While TO sink holes
only Il compile OF lhches IN diameter,
'he capaclty ol inc drlli' us that
"ouia not 10 sulnclent TO give any
eatlsiac'ioh' oue that II was deemed
pe''er 70 SILK louf toot smart at
onee' ne o"hels VI the machlne
Wete pau twenty-five doilars tor
'nelf trouole III bringing The ma
cnlne hele' ana uiSlnlsseu.
IniS ''SC report IL Is asserted,
was toio 10 counteract the effect of
Inc hrst one, which is true, and quiet
Inc publlc nina until plans can be
perfected for taking advantage of
the rich discovery. That a company
Will he at once formed for mining
on large scale.
IL Is not possible TO give all the
minor and collateral rumors but
these are the main ones, and anyone
VINO Is able 10 gether any satisfaction
OF comfort out OIL any OF them is wei.
come TO 1t.
Parker Mcclure has been deeply in
terested In the matter from the be-
Pangburn locking toward a thorough
-, =.